CDC helps parents stay up-to-date with child's shots

Kids need to be up-to-date on their immunizations before they can attend school. But do you know which shots your child needs?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains a master schedule suggesting which immunizations a child should receive when. But Jane Seward, medical officer for the CDC’s Office of Infectious Disease, said it’s up to each state to decide which shots to require.

Your child’s physician is your best resource for making sure all necessary immunizations are in place; the doctor can also discuss the pros and cons of optional shots. You can keep track yourself, though, by using the CDC’s tools at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/child-schedule.htm.

Packing a lunch is perhaps the best way to ensure that your child gets a good, nutritious meal for in the middle of the school day.

To craft a well-balanced repast, suggests Carolyn Land Williams, a registered dietitian, mother of two and co-author of Cooking Light’s new “The Ultimate Kid-Approved Cookbook” (Oxmoor House, 2011), simply mix and match items from these six major food groups. Get the kids involved in putting together their lunches, and they’ll be more likely to actually eat what’s packed, she said.